I am now hosting my own blog, but I’ll be keeping all the content on this blog since most of it is already indexed and some people might have bookmarked posts (and others added links to posts in forums).

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One of the photos in yesterday’s collection of photos from Boston.com’s Big Picture publication was of a fireworks display near Big Ben and the London Eye. Below is a awesome 9+ minute video of the fireworks display in London. [via Babis’ Weblog]

For more fireworks displays from around the world, check here for more.

While we spent new year’s eve with family quietly at home, others, around the world, celebrated the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. And in typical Boston.comBig Picture fashion they’ve put together another great collection of photos from around the world – enjoy!

People all around the world gathered in groups large and small last night to usher out the previous year, and welcome the arrival of 2010. Under a rare New Year’s Eve Blue Moon, crowds watched fireworks, cheered, made resolutions, and counted down to midnight. 2010 is the year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac, signifying a year of bravery and courage. Collected here are some photographs of people across the earth as they welcomed the new year in many different ways. (38 photos total) – source Boston.com

Fireworks from the Space Needle light up downtown Seattle, Washington to bring in the new year, as seen from Kerry Park, Friday, Jan. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Cliff DesPeaux)

I know I won’t get a chance to do this later – so I’m preparing this post a few hours earlier.

Thanks to all my loyal readers, you know who you are, and also to the many people that visit my blog from far and wide. It’s been a good year, with many events (good and bad), let’s hope 2010 is even better, for everyone!

I got sent this by BG yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it – if you’re Greek, or even half-Greek, or even know someone Greek you’ll enjoy this. I’m so getting my dad to read this on Christmas Day, he’ll get a real kick out of it.

If you know the original source of this let me know and I’ll give credit.

T’was the night before Hristouyenna and all through the spiti
I could smell fasolatha & pasticho through my miti.
Pandofles were hung on the fireplace quite low,
Hoping Ayios Vasilis would bring some poto.
Patera in his krevati was snoring pretty hard,
Tired from stealing the tree from
our malaka neighbours’ yard.

Mama was in the basement cooking like a nikokira,
adding just enough lemon to her fresh made horta.
When the thorivo came from outside the porta,
Baba yelled from his room “ela mesa re malaka”.
The knocking on the door, such a rude, loud barage ,
I yelled through the window
“It’s a Greek house re malaka, come in through the garage!”

Then, standing in the garage right next to my car,
was my drunk thio Mitso coming home from the bar.
“Ainde kimisou methismene” I told him with might,
“you’ll ruin my chances of seeing Ayio Vasilis tonight”.

About two hours later I heard a noise down the stair,
I jumped from my krevati to see who was there.
Standing by the tree eating leftover fakkes,
Was Ayios Vasilis reeking of tsiporo no less.

He was all dressed in red and as big as an ox,
Wearing brown “pandofles” along with black socks.
Smelling like a katsiki with a touch of “Old Spice”,

He’d been drinking for days and smelled not very nice.
He was putting the presents out under the tree,
They were wrapped like skata, it was quite plain to see.
Vrakyia & 6 kaltses from Myer for me,
and 12 for my brother cuz he’s only 3.

This Santa was paraxenos, nothing like the fable,
Before leaving he stole my tsigara from the table.
I yelled “Eh, Ay’ Vasili, ti kaneis ekie?”
and he turned and he threw his “pandofla” at me.

The look in his eyes was nothing but fright,
He said “fiye apo tho, re malaka” and dashed out of sight.
And he called to his reindeer, and called them by name
I knew they were not the same animals from “Jingle Bell” fame..